Mail-crane.



No. 888,717. PATENTEB MAY 126, 190s.

s. T. LONG. MAIL CRANE.

AIPLICATION FILED 0013.10, 1907.

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Sanzaali'Lon No 888,71'7- PATENTED MAY 26, 1908. -S. T. LONG.

MAIL CRANE. urmbumn Hum 001210. 1901.

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SAMUEL T. LONG, OF WEBB CITY, MISSOURI.

MAIL-CRANE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 26, 1908.

Application filed October 10, 1907. Serial No. 396,822.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL T.LONG, citizen of the United States, residing at l Vebb City, in the county of Jasper and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mail-Cranes, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to means for use in receiving and delivering packages to moving vehicles, such as cars, being of especial advantage in the handling of'mail at stations by which fast trains pass without making a stop.

The invention is in the nature of a crane set to one side of a track, or between adjacent tracks to be used with either, and having a'head mounted to turn about a vertical axis and provided at diametrically opposite points with, respectively, a catcher and a deliverer, said head being held in given position by means of a spring actuated holder and adapted to move under the impact of a package or other article delivered to the catcher from the train or like moving vehicle or carrier, thereby preventing injury both to the appliance and to the package or article delivered.

For a full understanding of the invention and the merits thereof and also to acquire a knowledge of the details of construction and the means for effecting the result, reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawing.

While the invention may be adapted to different forms and conditions by changes in the structure and minor details without departing from the spirit or essential features thereof, still the preferred embodiment is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a mail crane embodying the invention, the dotted lines at the left of the figure showing a mail pouch and the support therefor attached to the mail car. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section of the mail crane on the line 0c-9c of Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is a front view of the mail crane, parts of the head being broken away to show more clearly the structural details and the mountings thereof. Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of the bracket attached to the arm of the catcher and adapted to give proper direction to the receiver and retainer and supporting the spring actuated latch. Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of the retainer.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the same reference characters.

The head 1 provided with the catcher and deliverer is mounted upon a post 2 which is adapted to be erected at one side of a railway track or between adjacent tracks, as may be required. The head 1 preferably consists of a casting and is provided with a vertical opening through which passes a spindle or journal 3, and with a vertical open ing 4 in which the deliverer is adjustable, and with horizontal openings to receive the members 5, 6 and 7 comprising the arm of the catcher and which members are secured in the horizontal opening of the head by means of a bolt or like fastening 8. I

The spindle or journal 3 is secured at its lower end to a vertical extension 9 of a cap piece 10, which latter is fitted to the upper end of the post 2 and secured thereto in any firm and substantial way. The head 1 is adapted to turn freely about the vertical .spindle or ournal 3 and is provided in its top side at opposite points with depressions 1 1 to receive small wheels 12 forming elements of r the spring actuated holder for mounting the head in a given position, that is, with either catcher or the deliverer facing the track and in position either to receive the package from a moving train or to deliver matter to said train.

The spring actuated holder consists of an angular stem 13 projected upward from the spindle or. journal 3, a frame 14 mounted on said stem and provided with wheels 12, a spring 15 mounted upon the upper portion of the stem 13 and exerting a downward pressure upon the frame 14, and a set nut 16 threaded upon the upper end of the stem 13 and confining the spring 15 and adapted to regulate tension thereof. The stem 13 is threaded into the upper end of the spindle or journal 3 and being angular prevents turning'Of the frame 14, and when the wheels 12 are seated in the depressions 11, the catcher and deliverer are held in a given position. Upon the application of sufficient force to the catcher, as by the impact of the delivery of a package or matter thereto, the wheels 12 ride out of the depressions 11 and the arm and head turn about the spindle or journal 3 as an axis and thereby neutralize the force of the impact so asto prevent injury to the apparatus or to the package or matter delivered.

The deliverer consists of a vertical member 17 and horizontal members 18, the latter projecting in the same direction and adapted to receive between their outer ends the mail 5 pouch or other matter to be delivered to the moving vehicle or train, as indicated bydotted lines in Fig. 3.

The deliverer is adjustable vertically in the opening 4 of the head 1 and is secured in the required adjusted position by means of fastenings 19 passed through openings of the head 1 and through selected openings formed in the member 17.

The catcher comprises the arm consisting 5 of the members 5, 6 and 7, a receiver and a retainer 21. The receiver 20 consists of an arm mounted to swing horizontally and piv -oted at its inner end to a side of the head, the latter having lateral flanges 22 vertically 20 spaced to receive between them the inner ends of the members of said receiver, the flanges 22 being provided with a series of openings 23 to receive the pivot fastening 24, thereby admitting of the receiver 20 having 25 adjustable connection with the said head. The receiver 20 has a curved portion 25 near its outer end to form a seat to receive the --contracted portion of the mail pouch or 'other article or matter delivered to the catcher. The receiver 20 is preferably formed of a bar which is doubled upon itself, the bent portions being spaced apart to form an open frame, as clearly indicated in Fig. 1. A guard 26 consisting of a frame of U-form is secured to the outer end of the catcher arm,

preferably by having its members passed between the members 5, 6 and 7 and forming the said catcher arm. The outer end of the receiver 25 is inserted in the space formed between the upper and lower members of the said guard 26, thereby serving to support the same and to direct the receiver in its swinging movements. The guard 26 prevents outward displacement of the package delivered to the catcher.

The retainer 21 is of U-form and is pivoted to the outer portion of the receiver at 27 and moves therewith and has independent moveinent about the pivot fastening 27 so as to open and close as the receiver is swung horizontally about the ivot fastening 24. A bracket 28 is secured to the catcher arm by having portions passedbetween the members 5, 6 and 7, and apertured to receive fastenings 29. The bracket 28 is provided with curved slots 30, 31 and 32. The curved slot 32 has a horizontal arrangement and is adapt- --ed to receive a curved ratchet bar 33 connected to the receiver and retainer by means 0 of the pivot fastening 27. The curved slot 31 extends vertically and receives the pivot fastening 27. The curved slot 30 also eX- tends vertically and receives atie 34 connecting the inner ends of the vertically spaced 55 members of the retainer 21. As the receiver 20 swings horizontally about the vertical axis 24, it carries the retainer 21 with it and the tie 34 operating in the curved slot 30 causes the outer portion of the retainer to move towards or from the receiver according as the latter swings inward or outward from the catcher arm. Fig. 2 shows the normal position of the parts when set to receive a mail pouch, article or the like from a moving train, and as the package strikes the outer end of the receiver 20 and moves the same towards the catcher arm, the outer end of the retainer 21 is likewise moved towards the receiver so as to confine the package and prevent a rebound thereof. As the receiver moves towards the catcher arm, the curved ratchet bar 33 is also moved inward and its teeth ride upon the inner end of a spring actuated latch bolt 35 which prevents outward movement of the receiver and insures the pouch or other matter being securely held by the operating parts of the catcher. When the impact is sustained by the catcher arm, the latter moves and swings about the spindle or journal 3 as an axis.

A mail crane embodying the invention is adapted to be placed alongside of a track at the station or place where mail, packages or the like are to be both delivered to and re ceived from a moving train, or should a double track exist, the crane may bearranged between the tracks so as to operate with either. \Vhen set to deliver mail,- the head 1 is turned to bring the deliverer adj a cent to the track and the pouch or package to be delivered is suspended between the bars 13 in position to be taken up by the catcher fitted to the mail car. WVhen mail is to be received from a passing train, the head is turned to bring the catcher adjacent to the track. The spring actuated holding means normally retain either the catcher or the deliverer in proper position.

When the apparatus is not required for immediate use, the head is turned to bring the deliverer and catcher about parallel with the track and is secured by any suitable means as a bolt 36 fitted to the vertical members 17 of the deliverer or to any convenient part of the device, said bolt adapted to engage the cap 10 or other part of the structure.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. In a mail crane of the character specified, the combination of a head mounted to turn about a vertical axis and provided with means for receiving or delivering mail, and having a depression, a frame adapted to move vertically but prevented from turning and provided with a wheel adapted to enter the depression of said head, and a spring exerting a pressure upon the saidframe to hold the wheel in the depression of the head.

2. In amail crane of the character specified, the combination of a head, and a deliverer carried by said head and vertically adjustable and comprising a vertical member and horizontal members, the latter adapted to receive between them the mail to be delivered.

In a crane of the character specified, the combination of a horizontally swinging receiver arm, a retainer carried by said arm and having pivotal connection therewith, and means for positively opening and closing said retainer as said receiver arm swings either outward or inward.

4. In a device of the character specified, the combination of a horizontally swinging receiver arm, a retainer pivotally connected to said receiver arm, and means for opening and closing said retainer as said receiver arm swings outward and inward, said means consisting of a curved guide and an extension of the receiver cooperating with said curved guide.

5. In combination, a horizontally swinging receiver arm, a retainer pivoted thereto, means for opening and closing said receiver as the receiver arm swings outward and m ward, and lock means for holding the receiver arm and retainer in an adjusted position.

6. In combination, a horizontally swinging receiver arm, a retainer pivoted thereto, means for opening and closing said receiver as the receiver arm swings outward and ini i l &

ward, and lock means for holding the receiver arm and retainer in an adjusted position, said lock means consisting of a ratchet bar and a spring actuated. latch bolt.

7. In combination, a horizontally swinging receiver arm, a retainer pivoted thereto, means for opening and closing said receiver as the receiver arm swings outward and inward, and lock means for holding the receiver arm and retainer in an adjusted position, said lock means consisting of a ratchet bar and a spring actuated latch bolt, said ratchet bar being connected with the receiver arm and retainer to move therewith and the latch bolt being mounted upon a relatively fixed support.

8. In combination, a horizontally swinging receiver arm, a retainer pivoted to said receiver arm, means for opening and closing said retainer as the receiver arm is swung outward and inward, and a guard cooperating with the outer end of said receiver arm and adapted to close the space between it and the retainer to prevent outward displacement of the article delivered to said receiver arm.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

SAMUEL T. LONG.

itnesses V. B. HILLYARD, W. N. WVooDsoN. 

